CNN’s John King to replace Lou Dobbs as network’s 7 p.m. anchor after Dobbs’ abrupt exit
John King said his travels through the country have taught him that viewers want solid, balanced news first, along with a dose of analysis.
He’s hoping to do that early next year when CNN hands him the 7 p.m. hour, which was left open Wednesday when network veteran Lou Dobbs resigned.
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“I think they’re disappointed in us,” King said Thursday of viewers. “Maybe we don’t give them as much information and insight before the feisty conversations cable news is defined by.”
King, the network’s chief national correspondent, will anchor an hour that will mix “straight facts” from the anchor and a wide range of opinions.
“I will convey what I learn in reporting, not what I think,” King said. “I’m not an advocate for any person, any issue, any party. I’m a reporter that believes there’s an amazing thirst for information, presented in an entertaining way. If I’m wrong, they’ll farm me out.”
That will be a stark contrast to Dobbs’ show, where until recently he had freely made the program an outlet for his political views.
CNN President Jonathan Klein said the decision for Dobbs to leave followed on conversations they’d had for months “about eliminating opinion” from Dobbs’ show.
“To his credit,” Klein said, “he gave it a try, lining up with the mission of our network. A few weeks ago, he said that wasn’t the direction he wanted to go in.”
Dobbs said Wednesday he was considering a number of options, but didn’t reveal any. Immediate speculation turned to Fox News, but officials there said they were not in discussions with Dobbs.
Callers to Dobbs’ radio show Thursday said he should go to Fox, the top-rated news network in prime time with opinionated hosts.
“That’s a very kind thought. It’s very flattering you’re interested in my future,” Dobbs said. “But I haven’t even begun to get to that part. We’re going to explore a lot of options … and see what happens. My wife and are going to take a couple of weeks and consider what’s out there. It’s going to take a while.”
King has been at CNN since 1997 and its chief national correspondent since 2005. Klein, King and the crew at CNN will take several weeks to craft the new show. King said he has some ideas.
“Had I sketched this out in my dream-o-vision, sure,” he said. “When I fill in for Anderson [Cooper], that’s his show. When I filled in for Lou [Dobbs] or Larry [King], it’s their show. But you’re always thinking, ‘How would I do this show if it were mine?’”
As part of King’s move to the weeknight show, he’ll give up his Sunday series.
For CNN, the change comes as network officials have stressed the goal was to avoid the opinionated prime-time fare its rivals have used – as well as sister HLN – to generate big ratings.
“Of course, we would like to have more viewers than the other cable news channels,” Klein said. “But the way we get more viewers is more important than the numbers themselves.”
